12 Places Around Greater Cleveland You Thought Only Existed In Your Imagination

Rockefeller Park is an urban delight, a hidden gem located right along the expanse of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The park's 29 established gardens are alluring, featuring stunning statues and stonework that pay homage to the multitude of cultures that make Cleveland such a special place. The greenhouse encompasses an entire acre of spectacular flora that thrives year-round, and is open daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It is the perfect place to enjoy a serene escape from city life.

Huntington Reservation is a purely entrancing stretch of natural space within the Cleveland Metroparks. With a beach, lakefront trails, and entrancing views of the lake, there is much to love in this magical park.

As the largest performing arts district outside of New York, the ambiance here will truly blow you away. By night, its streets are cast in neon hues, and the specially-designed crystals of our giant chandelier dazzle visitors with a warm glow. This dreamy district is a Cleveland icon, and its tumultuous history almost ended with some of its buildings being razed in the 1970s. The rescue and restoration projects are considered by many to be some of the city's top successes.

This alluring park is aptly named, as the twin branches of the Black River come together and cascade gracefully over Berea Sandstone. 135 acres await exploration, and you'll find yourself enamored with the surroundings from the moment you arrive.

No, your mind is not playing tricks on you; this building is absolutely weird and wonderful. It was designed by Frank Gehry, and it is one of the Case Western Reserve University's most fascinating features. Inside this enormous edifice are the pupils of the Weatherhead School of Management.

In the 1880s, the 95-acre Chippewa Lake Amusement Park began making memories for Northeast Ohioans. However, when it closed in 1978, those memories were left to rot. So, too, were many rides and structures at the park. The skeleton of the Big Dipper roller coaster and the eerie silhouette of the Ferris Wheel are just a few of the remains of the resort, concealed by the plant growth that has taken over the park. Look like a scene straight out of a horror movie? That's because in 2008, the site was used to film a horror flick called Closed For The Season. As the park is private property, this is one local wonder you won't be able to appreciate in person. No worries, though! This short 2009 documentary will place you right in the heart of the abandoned park, showing you how the years have transformed its appearance.

Valley Parkway itself is spectacular, the ideal road for a picture-perfect Sunday drive, but the reservation it carves through is breathtaking. The woodland is split by its namesake, the Rocky River, and it features a stunning 360 million-year-old shale cliff. This remarkable park is one of the most stunning in Cleveland, and its awe-inspiring views are enchanting year-round.

The bustle of traffic through University Circle may lead visitors to believe that the area is fast-paced and busy, busy, busy. However, tucked alongside the art museum is a quiet lagoon that is unrivaled in terms of beauty. Fine sculptures adorn the surrounding park, and in the spring it is framed in pastel blossoms. Right now, the lagoon is reflecting the rusty hues of autumn, and it is purely mesmerizing. This dreamy destination is a must-see for every Clevelander.

Many would not think of a cemetery as dreamy, but Lake View is truly a spectacle. Its majestic grounds are perfectly manicured and feature stunning monuments. The Wade Memorial Chapel is encrusted with designs from Louis Comfort Tiffany, and the looming James A. Garfield Monument houses impressive architecture and the remains of a former president. This entire cemetery is a summary of Cleveland's most fascinating history, and the stories it tells are enlightening and inspiring.

In the winter of 2010, something peculiar occurred. Unrelenting winds caused wave after wave to crash, spraying the lighthouse. Mother Nature's power and subzero temperatures interacted, and a thick encasement of ice formed around the lighthouse. This magical moment in Cleveland history continues to enchant the community, as nobody ever dared to dream that nature would make such an artistic statement in our own waters.

North Chagrin Reservation is a real-life fairy tale. Songbirds flutter about the splendor of Buttermilk Falls, and nearby Squire's Castle rises grandiosely over the landscape.